“I thought they [police] were trained to do other things… but it seems like they just shoot people,” she said.

Initially officers said there was a scuffle as they tried to take Skeens into custody, before shots were fired. Then they said Skeens started to threateningly approach officers who had their guns drawn.

“The subject began walking toward the officers…counting…and a single shot was fired by one officer…striking the subject,” said Lt. Eric Owens, with the Henrico Police Department.

Bill Handy, Skeens’s father, said his son is mentally disabled. Handy said that his son does have a troubled past but that he wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Skeens, who took a bullet in the torso, was taken to VCU Medical Center. He is listed as in critical condition.